person:sally ride

  • Trailblazing Astronaut and Physicist Sally Ride in Conversation with Gloria Steinem About Gender in Science and How Lazy Media Portrayals Perpetuate Stereotypes – Brain Pickings
    https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/02/02/sally-ride-blank-on-blank-gloria-steinem

    In 1978, while studying for her Ph.D. in physics, Sally Ride (May 26, 1951–July 23, 2012) answered a newspaper ad from NASA. On June 18, 1983, she soared into the cosmos aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger and became the first American woman in space, the country’s youngest astronaut in orbit, and the world’s first lesbian astronaut to launch into the cosmos. “We’ve come a long way,” she declared.

    But lurking in the shadow of every major leap toward equality is also a reminder of how far we have yet to go. Shortly after returning to Earth from orbit, Ride sat down with trailblazing feminist Gloria Steinem — a woman who has dedicated her life to the art of public listening — for a conversation about gender in science, how the options our culture makes available to us limit the dreams we’re capable of dreaming, how lazy journalism perpetuates stereotypes, and the future of space exploration.

    #science #femmes #sexisme

  • 14 celebrity coming out stories which shocked the world | Gay Star News
    http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/14-celebrity-coming-out-stories-which-shocked-world111012

    14 celebrity coming out stories which shocked the world
    Gay Star News takes a look at 14 men and women who have inspired thousands to be honest about their sexuality
    11 October 2012 | By Joe Morgan
    When Frank Ocean came out, it inspired thousands of others to do the same. We celebrate him and others for Coming Out Day.

    There is real power when a celebrity is honest about their sexuality or gender identity, as it lets thousands of young gay people know they are not alone.

    So to celebrate Coming Out Day (11 October), GSN has gathered together the stories of 14 celebrities who shocked the world when they were revealed who they really are.
    Ellen DeGeneres

    When Ellen DeGeneres came out as a lesbian in 1997 on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, and later on her sitcom, she didn’t work for three whole years.

    But soon after that, she was given a daytime talk show in 2003. With The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she has become one of the most loved personalities on our screens today.

    Check out a video of the comic talking with her Oscar-nominated actress and co-star of her coming out episode Laura Dern here:

    Ricky Martin

    Before Ricky Martin came out in 2010, he spent 11 years of his life besieged by gay rumors.

    The Puerto Rican singer was linked with TV host Rebecca de Alba as well as his ‘Nobody Wants To Be Lonely’ duet partner Christina Aguilera.

    In a 2000 interview with British tabloid The Mirror, he said: ‘I don’t think I should have to tell anyone if I am gay or not, or who I’ve slept with or not.’

    But in 2010, he finally admitted who he is. In a post on his official website, he said: ‘I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.’
    Jessie J

    British bisexual Jessie J became open about her sexuality when she broke the USA.

    In a radio interview last year, she said: ‘I’ve never denied it. Whoopie doo guys, yes, I’ve dated girls and I’ve dated boys – get over it.’

    Despite that, The Sun ‘outed’ her as a lesbian in April 2012. However, she called it a ‘boring, untrue story’.
    Chaz Bono

    Chaz Bono, the only child of Sonny and Cher, is one of the most high-profile transgender advocates in the USA.

    Outed by the tabloid press in 1995 as a lesbian, Bono spent years writing about gay rights.

    Between 2008-2010, he began his transition and saw his celebrity rise and rise which culminated in appearing as a contestant on one of the highest rated American TV shows Dancing On The Stars.

    Check out Bono discussing his transition here:

    Sally Ride

    As the first American woman to fly in space, little was known about Sally Ride’s sexuality and personal life for years.

    But it was only when she died of pancreatic cancer, in July this year, her obituary revealed she had been in a 27 year relationship with a woman.

    On the day of her death, President Barack Obama described her as a ‘national hero and a powerful role model.’
    Orlando Cruz

    The first openly gay man to come out and continue competing in professional boxing, Orlando Cruz has made sport history.

    In October 2012, the Puerto Rican made an announcement he wanted to be true to himself.

    He said: ‘I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career.

    ‘I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.’
    Cynthia Nixon

    When you try to think of the one television show most straight women would most identify with, it would likely be Sex and the City.

    The comic drama set in New York featured four heterosexual women finding love in the big city, and it starred Cynthia Nixon as tough businesswoman Miranda.

    While Miranda met marital difficulties with partner Steve, Cynthia Nixon had found true love with a woman. Nixon and her partner activist Christine Marinoni married in May 2012.
    Gareth Thomas

    Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas isn’t exactly the stereotype of a gay guy, considering he is a star of one of the most macho, tough sports in the world.

    But when he came out in 2010, he was the first openly gay athlete on any major sports team in the world.

    Thomas says: ‘If sportspeople come out and share such a powerful story, and such a positive message, it changes the world. If someone is openly gay in sport, and being able to continue that sport, it is such a positive message for the world.’
    Chely Wright

    You may not have heard of Chely Wright, but she is one of the USA’s biggest country stars.

    For an industry that is renowned to be Republican, and by default, homophobic, Wright has been able to forge out a successful career.

    In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, she said when the TV host came out it inspired her but also terrified her.

    ‘I was watching it with my sister and my father who did not know I was gay.The minute you came out, my father reached for the remote control and flipped the TV off and said it was disgusting.

    ‘It sent me into a spiral. I made that promise again to never tell anyone in my family, or the record-buying public, that I was gay.’

    But as years past, and they grew further apart, she had no choice to tell her father.

    He got up on stage the next night at one of Wright’s gigs and said: ‘I’m so glad you guys came out to see my daughter, I’m really proud of her. Now kid, get back to singing.’

    Check out the interview here:

    Matt Bomer

    Matt Bomer has played a male stripper, a detective, and is now being lined up to play female fantasy Christian in the film adaption of Fifty Shades of Grey.

    And he is gay. After he came out in February 2012, he said: ‘I never really endeavored to hide anything.

    ‘But there were times I chose not to relegate my history to the back page of a magazine, which to me is sort of akin to putting your biography on a bathroom wall.’
    Lady Gaga

    One of the most successful pop stars today, openly bisexual Lady Gaga is one of the most famous gay rights advocates.

    While she is openly Christian, she has risked backlash by slamming the Pope for his anti-gay views.

    She said: ‘What the Pope thinks of being gay does not matter. It doesn’t matter to the world. It matters to the people who like the Pope and follow the Pope.’

    Check out Gaga performing John Lennon’s Imagine at a Human Rights benefit here:

    Jim Parsons

    When The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons came out, it wasn’t by announcing it on the cover of a magazine.

    He came out publicly in a New York Times profile interview when he was starring in Broadway in the play Harvey.

    The article simply said: ‘Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship.’
    KD Lang

    Canadian born KD Lang is one of the most successful artists of all time.

    Winning multiple Grammy awards, Lang came out in an interview with The Advocate in 1992.

    In an interview with Canadian LGBT news website Xtra!, she said: ‘To celebrate your own uniqueness is the biggest celebration of confidence.

    ‘It’s a testimony to your parents and to yourself to live your life as who you are.’

    ‘Coming out as a lesbian was important,’ she said. ‘When you’re holding in things or not being honest, all these things affect your voice. My voice is definitely designated to who I am as a person.’
    Frank Ocean

    Ever since R&B star Fran Ocean came out, he has seen his career skyrocket to success.

    In July, the Odd Future member published what was meant to be the notes for his album Channel Orange.

    He describes meeting a man when he was 19 years old and falling in love, for real, for the first time.

    Ocean says when he looked back on his previous girlfriends and the love songs he used to play for them, the lyrics were ‘written in a language’ he did not yet speak.

    When it was released, Channel Orange reached the top of the US Billboard R&B Chart. It just shows that honesty really is the best policy.

  • First US woman in space Sally Ride died early ‘because she was gay’ | Gay Star News
    http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/first-us-woman-space-sally-ride-died-early-%E2%80%98because-she-was-gay

    First US woman in space Sally Ride died early ‘because she was gay’
    Right-wing scientists say Ride, who died of pancreatic cancer, fits a ’consistent pattern’ of lesbians dying early
    10 October 2012 | By Joe Morgan
    Family Research Institute says Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, died early because she was a lesbian.

    Right-wing ‘scientists’ from the Family Research Institute have claimed the first American woman in space, Sally Ride, died early because she was a lesbian.

    The FRI states her death ‘fits a consistent pattern suggesting that homosexuality is associated with an early demise,’ the Right Wing Watch reports.

    Ride died of pancreatic cancer on 23 July, and her obituary revealed she had been in a committed relationship with a woman for the last 27 years. She was 61.

    The FRI says: ‘Most women live until their 80s. Something strange afoot?

    ‘Ride was married to a fellow astronaut [Steve Hawley] from 1982 to 1987. But it was just revealed she had a ‘long time lesbian relationship’ of 27 years.

    ‘Do the math: her 27 year relationship with a professor of school psychology (and co-founder of Sally Ride’s company) means that she got into that relationship in 1985, smack in the middle of her marriage.

    ‘It would appear that her childhood friend broke up her marriage. And Sally may have paid with some of her lifespan.’

    The FRI, whose mission is to generate empirical research on issues that threaten the ’traditional family’, say after looking through recent gay people’s obituaries from San Francisco, it indicates lesbians are dying on average around 60.

    ‘Ride fits the pattern of lesbian deaths, but not that of married women’s deaths, which usually extend into the early-to-mid 80s,’ the right-wing group said. ‘Had she stayed married, Sally Ride might have died at the same age and of the same malady.

    ‘But on average, her death fits a consistent pattern suggesting that homosexuality is associated with an early demise.’

    On the day of her death, President Barack Obama said: ‘As the first American woman to travel into space, Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model.

    ‘She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars and later fought tirelessly to help them get there by advocating for a greater focus on science and math in our schools.

    ‘Sally’s life showed us that there are no limits to what we can achieve and I have no doubt that her legacy will endure for years to come.’

    Ride is survived by her partner Doctor Tam E. O’Shaughnessy.